A new algorithm for calculation of blood loss in excisional burn surgery

One hundred and two patients who sustained thermal injury and who underwent 155 excisional procedures were prospectively studied in order to determine an accurate blood loss formula. Blood loss (mean +/- S.D.) is expressed as the percentage of the total blood volume lost for each per cent of body surface area excised and autografted. There was no significant difference between the blood loss for the overall group of procedures (4.1 +/- 0.24) and the various subgroups indicating that the outcome was not influenced by the method, extent or timing of excision or by the use of tourniquets. From the authors' calculations, approximately 196 ml of blood is required for each per cent of body surface area excised and autografted.